Interning on the Aronnax

Heritage

A/N: ...

---------------------------------------

Finn flattened himself against the wall. How had Nereus known he'd abandoned the ducts when Nereus and Fontaine started to talk? He was sure he'd been silent!

"What friend?" Fontaine asked, alarm barely noticeable in her voice.

"Rat," Nereus said.

Finn grimaced at his first name.

"Rat? Like, an actual rat? The Aronnax doesn't have rats, Nereus."

Nereus sputtered indignantly. "I'm talking about the pirate Rat! Hammerhead's son."

Well, there was no hiding it anymore. Finn poked his head around the corner.

"You know the Cap'n?"

Fontaine startled. "Finn, why did you- I mean, how did you get on board?"

Nereus turned to Finn. The old man froze for a split-second with some odd, twisted expression crossing his face, then gave an amused shake of his head.

"I believe you know exactly how Rat came aboard, Fontaine," Nereus said.

Fontaine sighed and crossed her arms. "Maybe I do. And his name is Finn."

"I want to know how you know my first name," Finn said.

Nereus just gave him a pleased smile.

"Finn, this is Nereus. He's not going to tell you how he knows anything," Fontaine said grumpily. "Now, Nereus, you were right. I suppose you're going to tell Mum and Dad?"

"I think it's a good idea," Finn offered.

Fontaine raised her eyebrows. "You do?"

"Well..." Finn rubbed his arms, still a bit shaken by the surge of emotions he'd experienced. "Now is as good a time as any, I guess."

"No, they can't know!" Nereus said.

"So, you want them to keep thinking Finn's an Atlantean spirit?"

"Yes, and for good reason."

"Which would be...?" Fontaine asked.

"It's dangerous for Rat -er, Finn- to be on board the Aronnax."

Finn cocked his head. "Look, I know the Nektons and my family don't exactly get along, but I don't think I'm in any danger here."

"Yet," Nereus said darkly.

Finn took a step back. "Meaning?"

"Finn," Nereus said. "Have your eyes been glowing as well?"

Finn sighed. "Fine, we'll do it your way. Yes, they have."

"I thought so," Nereus said, nodding.

"Does that mean I'm cursed, too?" Finn asked.

"Possibly."

Finn and Fontaine simultaneously groaned.

"I really don't know," Nereus insisted. "I will have to check with the other Guardians. Perhaps I have missed something. I do know, however, that you are at risk if you continue to remain on the Aronnax."

"I get it," Finn said. "Why?"

Nereus glanced at Fontaine. "Your family is the closest to ever come to finding Lemuria. The closer you get, the more likely it is that other Guardians will wish to speak with you." He then addressed Finn. "And if I'm correct, you come from a... unique bloodline. One that has most regular people see you as an enemy."

"You mean beside the fact that I come from a pirate family?" Finn said drily.

"Which is a perfect cover," Nereus said, something almost like admiration in his voice. "Nobody would think twice if they didn't like you."

"Anytime you want to stop insulting my friend works for me," Fontaine ground out.

"Sorry, but it's true," Nereus said.

"Dad always said I've had more than my fair share of knives thrown at me," Finn said. "And Mom sometimes said it would be more dangerous for me than Pete around others. I assumed it was because I'm younger."

"Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with age," Nereus said.

"If that's because of his bloodline, why don't I get the urge to kill Finn?" Fontaine asked. "Well, no more than, say, Ant."

"The urge fades with time and exposure," Nereus said.

"Okay, so there's a reason people tend to come after me more than the normal pirate," Finn said. "But if the Nektons knew about me and your 'Guardian' friends weren't around me too much, then I'd be fine, right? After all, you haven't tried to kill me."

"I try to keep an open mind," Nereus said with a broad smile. He sobered. "But, the risk is too high. Because of the Lemurian in the Guardian bloodline, it will take more than a few hours to get used to you."

"What does being Lemurian have to do with anything?" Finn asked.

"You think Lemurians are the only ancient civilization to have descendants?" Nereus asked. "Finn, you really are Atlantean."

---------------------------------------

A/N: ... -grins- -squeals- Finally! I've been sooooooo excited to reveal this about Finn! I almost blurted it so many times to reviewers! I finally, finally have the third and final AU point for this story! 0w0

(Yeah, I'm actually keeping track. The three major AU points are: Finn runs away, Pete opposing Hammerhead, and Atlantean Finn.)